Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1887-07-29
State Treasurer Burleigh.

it must have been apparent to MIN
that State Treasurer Burleigh has sue
ceeded, figuratively speaking. in tearing
the hides completely off the gang that has
been vindictively pursuing him for several
weeks, and has shown them to the world
in their true light, and tor absolute proof
OF this we call attention of our readers TO
the following points:
1st. The Treasurer's letter to Kendall.
dated July 25th, giving complete and
forceful history of the whole transaction,
by which it appears thai the contract was
awarded two weeks before Kendall's APP
plication was made.
2Dd. Letter from George w. Ely, Sec
rotary OF the committee Oh stock list OF
the New York stocF exchange, in which
he states '.that work of the Hamilton Bank
Note Company has never been admitted
to the stock list"
3rd. The Treasurer's telegram to Sec
rotary Ely asking if work done by "Tne
New York Bank Note Company" is ad-
mitted to the stock list, and
4th. Secretary Ely's telegram in reply
that it is not.
What do these documents prove? Sim.
ply this: that had either these companies
which jointly are making this malicious
attack upon Mr.. Burleigh been employed
70 do the work, the bonds could not have
been listed on the New York Stock Ex-
change and the treasurer would have COM
mitted blunder which. through
his foresight and carefulness, he
did not do. Mr.. Burleigh would have
been justified. knowing the situation, in
rejecting an offer from these companies to
do the work even had they made tie offer
to do it gratis.
No law OF the State ever required the
Treasurer to sell the work of engraving
and printing bonds to the lowest bidder
1t would be preposterous thing to do.
Former treasurers have done as Mr.. Bur.
leigh has done, gone to reliable firm and
paid regular prices. 1t is probably well
known to every citizen of the State that the
act authorizing the renewal of a portion OF
the public debt. divided the payments into
sums ranging from fifty to ninety
thousand dollars per annum, pay
able from one to forty years, so that
the dates in the bonds and semi-annual
coupons attached had to be changed every
year. thus increasing materially the ex-
pense of the work. There is not the
slightest doubt at all but that the price paid
was low Tor the work performed, and when
a company comes forward and makes an
offer after contract has been made, with.
out even knowing anything about the
specifications for, or character of the work
to be done, for one third the contract
price, it only shows the utter reckless.
ness and insincerity of their whole argu'
ment.
We agree with the editor of the Argus
and are satisfied "that the course pursued
by State Treasurer Burleigh was wise and
for the best interest of the State.'
We quote from the Globes correspond.
ent who evidently had made some inqui
res concerning the standing and character
of Treasurer Burleigh
1.-The representative of the THE CLONE has
given much time to the investigation OF the
matter. He has been given the fullest and
freest access to all the papers in the Office OF
the State Treasurer, and here desires to add
that every person with whom he has
talked democrats and republicans alike, have
given the same high testimony to the charac-
ter of Mr.. Burleieh. He from first to last
tried, beyond doubt, to do what he believed
to be the best thing for the State"
1t has been many day since we have
seen the enemy's works so completely de.
moished as in this instance by the records
furnished from the Treasurer's office.
The insinrations in the Globe CORE.
spondence about Mr.. Manley's connection
with this matter, made for political effect
are too ridiculous to require any attention
We give below the documents enumer
ated above:
STATE OF MAINE, TREASURES OFFICE, |
AUGUSTA, July 20, 1887.
George III. Kendall. Esq, President of the
New York Bank Note Company
DEAR Sir-During my absence from the
office some weeks ago letter WAS received
from you dated June p, in which YOU made
application for an opportunity to make bid
for doing the work of engraving aud printing
the new State bonds, which have recently
learned has not been answered.
On the fourteenth day of June. fortnight
before your letter Was written. made con.
track with the American Bank Note Compa
mp for doing the works corporation which
for more than 20 years had done similar work
for the State in a most satisfactory manner
and which I understand now engraves and
prints every postag stamp used in the United
States The act of the last Legislature (Chap
ter 43, Public Laws authorizing the issue OF
new bonds did not tand very properly, now
believe) require the treasurer to ask for pro-
posals for having the work done. The mat.
ter was left wholly to the judgment of the
treasurer. Iquote from section of that act
1.-The Treasurer of State is hereby au.
thorized to issue new bonds in sums of not
less than one hundred dollars each" This il
all the law under which acted aud is a repa.
tiliou of the laws of 1869 and 1880, under
which the latest issues of Maine securities
! were made, aud under which my predecessors
acted in employing the American Bank Note
Company to do the work of engraving anG
printing the bonds which are outstanding q,
the nrpao nj tiu,a